Pin setting and ball returning device



0a. 24, 1933. R MD 1,931,824

PIN SETTING AND BALL RETURNING DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizz/2am L. 52 1 11 I I WW 2 7 W lm-m Oct. 24, 1933. R. L. LLOYD PIN SETTING AND BALL RETURNING DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1929 ZShets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PIN SETTING AND BALL RETURNIN DEVICE Richard Lloyd, Providence, R. I. Application August 8, 1929. Serial No. 384,365 4 Claims. (01. 27s '44) This invention relates to bowling alleys, and more particularly to improvements in pin setting apparatus and mechanism toelevate and return the balls. This invention is an'improvement on the invention disclosed in my application, Serial No. 350,271, filed March 27, 1929 which has now matured into Patent No. 1,794,967 March 3, 1931..

The principal object is to provide a device which will automatically set the pins and return the balls at the same time.

Another object is to provide a pin setting ball return apparatus which may be operated by the player from his bowling position without the use of what is commonly known as a pin boy.

The obtaining of a sufficiently skilled number of pin setters to operate bowling alleys has long been'a problem in this business. Of necessity, the wages must be low and yet the work is hard and tedious. The pin setters must be quick and accurate in setting the pins and must quickly clear the pit of balls which have been bowled by the player or players.

In my invention, by a single operation the pins will be set and the balls returned. By a second operation the pin setting apparatus is removed from the alley. My invention insures accurate pin setting and immediate return of the spent balls.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the following detailed description and as shown in the two sheets of drawings which are herewith made a part of this application.

- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the pin setting and 3 5 =-ball return mechanism as attached to the alley;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the pin setting and ball return mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the pin setting and ball return mechanism; Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of "'"Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a' detailed perspective of the pin --locator with the housings removed.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by similar numerals:

Numeral 1 designated a bowling alley of the usual type having a gutter 2 extending along one Q,;side for the return of the spent balls. At the back of the alley 1 is a pit 3 having an inclined floor 4. Adjacent the lowest point of the inclined floor 4 is an opening 5 through which balls 6 may roll.

;: Extending beneath the bowling alley 1 is ashaft 7 to which is keyed or fastened an elevator 8. The elevator 8 when in lowered position is immediately adjacent the opening 5 and in line with the gutter 2. On the bowling alley 1 at the points usually designated for setting the pins 2 are placed. magnets 8. Extending from each'side. of the alley 1 are supports 9 having channels 10 in which is slidably mounteda pin locator 11. Extending from the channels 10 and secured to the pin locator 11 are lugs 12. Secured to the lugs 12 are links 13 and 14 the links'13 and 14 having elongated slots 15 to permit play.

The links 13 and 14 are secured to'the lug 12 by means of bolts 16. The oppcsite'ends of links 13 and 14 are keyed or fastened to shaft 17,; which in turn is mounted in bosses 18 and 19 which are-secured to the rear' of the alley 20. The shaft 17 extends through the bosses 18 and link 13 so-as to receive link- 21 which is keyed onto shaft 17; Keyed onto the shaft 7 on the opposite side from the elevator 8 is a link 22 which in turn is connected to a rod 23. The pointof 'connectionis in the form of a slot 24 topermit a slight lost motion. Rod 23 extends from thelink 22 in one direction to the end of the alley adjacent the positionof the'player or attendant and in the opposite direction to connect with link A handle 26 permits the player, or attendant, to operate the same. Extension springs 27 extend from the bottom of the pins 2' on up through the holes bored clear through the pins 2' and then through the tops of the housings 28 positioned on the pin locator 11. An iron or steel bushing is fastened to the bottom of the pins 2 to give contact with the magnets 8'. I

As actually used, the rod 23 will be pushed forward toward the rear of the alley by the bowler or the attendant, which causes the shaft 17 to be turned in a counterclockwise direction, resulting in the links 13 and 14 moving upward from their respective pivotal points in the bosses 18 and 19, and in turn lift the pin locator 11 which operates in the channels 10. This leaves the pins 2 in position on the alley held in place by the magnets 8'. Upon the rod 23 being pushed forward, the shaft 7 will be rotated by the link 22, which is keyed to same, in a counterclockwise direction and in turn will lower the elevator 8 to a point adjacent the opening 5 and in line with the gutter 2. The game is now ready to be played. Upon the bowler striking the pins 2 with a ball the connection between pins 2' and the magnets 8' will be broken and the pins 2 struck will seat themselves in the housings 28,

since the pins 2 are under tension due to the springs 27.

This automatically clears the alley 1 of the pins 2 as the same are struck by the ball. As soon as the player has completed his bowls, he or an attendant will pull rearwardly on the rod 23, which in turn will revolve the shaft 1'7 in a clockwise direction, causing the links 13 and I l to move downwardly, and in turn, lower the pin locator 11 until the pins 2 are once more contacting with the magnets 8 and are in proper position on the alley l. The balls 6 which have already been bowled will drop in the pit 3, and due to the inclined floor l will be rolled through the opening 5 and onto the elevator 8, which was in lowered position when the bowling took place.

Upon the pulling of the rod 23 rearward in order to lower the pin locator 11, the shaft '7, which is connected to the rod 23 by the link 22, is rotated in a clockwise direction, lifting the elevator 8 with the balls 6 therein until the balls 6 roll off of the elevator 8 onto the gutter 2 from whence they return to a position convenient to the player.

Not only is this invention suitable for the regu lation game of bowling; but it is likewise applicable to small or parlor games which may be made in a compact form and easily operated.

What I. claim is:

1. A. game of bowling having an alley, pins, and balls, slotted supports extending upwardly from said bowling alley, a pin locator slidably mounted in slots of said supports, bosses secured *to the end of said bowling alley, a shaft supshaft. extending through said bowling alley, an-

other link connecting said second shaft with said rod and being keyed to the last named shaft at one end and pivotally connected to said rod, an elevator keyed to the last mentioned shaft, a pit. having an inclined floor for receivingthe balls, a gutter extending along the bowling alley, said elevator being adjacent the lowest point of the inclined floor and in line with said gutter, means for detachably holding the pins in firm relationship to the alley, and other means for withdrawing said pins from the alley upon being struck.

2. In a bowling alley having targets and a return runway for balls, flXBd vertical guideways one on each side of the alley adjacent the targets, a target setting member vertically slidable in said guideways and extending over the targets, lever arms one on each side of the alley operable to raise and lower the target setter, an elevator for balls arranged in alignment with the return runway for the balls, means down which balls will roll from the alley onto the elevator, a lever associated with the elevator to rock same and elevate the balls into the return runway and a rod pivotally connecting the target setting device lever and the ball elevating device lever whereby same may be operated in unison.

3. In combination with a bowling alley having a ball runway and targets in said runway, a target setting member extending across said runway near one end thereof and over said targets, slotted guides fixed on opposite sides of said runway and extending perpendicularly therefrom, lugs on opposite ends of said member slidably mounted in the slots of said guides, and a system of levers operable from the other end of said guideway and having a part thereof in engagement with one of said lugs to reciprocate said member toward and from said runway.

4. In combination with a bowling alley having targets and a return runway for balls, a vertically reclprocable target setting member extending transversely of the alley and having lugs eX-. tending from opposite ends thereof, fixed guides for said lugs, parallel arms, one on each side of the alley engaging said lugs, a lever operating said arms to reciprocate said member, a pivoted ball elevator, a lever connected to the ball elevator to rock the same about its pivot axis, and a rod pivotally connecting said levers.

RICHARD L. LLOYD. 

